Phil Kessel

[OldTimeHockey]

And I as a fan, don't feel that a single guy out there owes me anything, nor do they owe it to the media to feed into their tabloid style of writing.

opinions vary where at times I think the media feels responsible in providing us a channel to "connect" with players on their respective teams


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

'Connecting' is not a personal concern of mine. It surely could be of others, but I don't care if they run around in women's panties once they're off the ice. They provide me a great deal of enjoyment while playing and that's all I really care about. that's just my personal preference though.

 

[Kin]

It is not absurd for a player to be opted out of practices. It happens all the time. It use to happen with Kovalchuk as they felt he played his best when he had more rest, plus he played a boatload of minutes per game.

That's a different issue. A team giving a player a day off is not the same as the player deciding for himself which of the team's obligations he's going to be a part of.

It's also not absurd for a team and a player to come to an agreement that said player does not want to speak with the media despite what you and the media may think of it.

Well, it is absurd because it's tacitly in violation of the league's collectively bargained media policy. Regardless, the issue here is that Kessel and the team, who I'm pretty sure know he doesn't like talking to the media, don't have an arrangement like that and the team expects Kessel to be dealing with the media. That's the problem with what Kessel did.

Like I said...if he, or any other significant part of your team feels that it's effecting their play, I don't see the harm in not meeting with the media...Like I said, if it helps your player play better, you should be happy to pay the fine.

Imagine for a second that we're not talking about the Toronto Maple Leafs and that the idea of "selling the game" actually means something. In that situation, as an owner, what I ideally want, and what I think is very reasonable to ask, is that the best player on my team, someone whose jersey I sell and put on advertising material, to be capable of both playing on the ice and talking to the media for a few minutes.

Phil Kessel isn't the first introverted hockey player. Bobby Orr was, Wayne Gretzky was, Sid Crosby certainly seems to be but all of those guys bit the bullet and did their duty to sell the game in addition to playing their hearts out. Asking Phil Kessel to do the same is pretty basic stuff.

 

[dappleganger]

I find it funny that the same people who own the team also own most of the media.

 

[lamajama]

If you're doing your job as a reporter properly, you have absolutely no biases and you report the stories as they develop, regardless of what sort of impact it may have.

Sorry, this part of your statement made me laugh. Only a handful of reporters still use this as a motto. Most are out to make a name for themselves by saying things like "I can count"....For 4 years they have reported on this story. I can't wait until Phil either leaves or he puts a couple past Boston. The reporters will scramble for their next Leaf to kick in the nuts..repeatedly.

Thanks I was going to comment on this also - these idiots "develop" the stories themselves.

 

[lamajama]

In situations like this, I miss Burke a little.

He'd have told these reporters the 101 ways in which they could go forth and multiply.

This situation was blown way out of proportion, but Burke was pretty good at shifting the media's ire from our stars to himself.

Yes this is about the only time his Burkeness would have been a true asset. I would love to have heard his response instead of Nonis'...Yee hah!

 

[MetalRaven]

And I as a fan, don't feel that a single guy out there owes me anything, nor do they owe it to the media to feed into their tabloid style of writing.

opinions vary where at times I think the media feels responsible in providing us a channel to "connect" with players on their respective teams


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

'Connecting' is not a personal concern of mine. It surely could be of others, but I don't care if they run around in women's panties once they're off the ice. They provide me a great deal of enjoyment while playing and that's all I really care about. that's just my personal preference though.

This.

Cox said it himself...the players never say anything anyway. Thats why I dont watch the interviews...you're never going to hear anything beyond the cookie cutter responses they always give. If this is the case, and Cox says so himself, then why get bent out of shape about it?

I personally believe its because hes upset that he didnt get the chance to attack Phil Kessel. The media is salivating to make snide little comments about his lack of production against Boston, and though correct, is a ridiculous thing to do to a player just before the playoffs. As far as I can tell, Phil Kessel seems to have a problem with self-confidence. Phil Kessel is also a very smart man. If he has decided that getting his confidence kicked in to the dirt, just to please a bunch of self-serving mouthpieces with an obvious agenda not to mention chips on their shoulders (Cox in particular) is a bad idea, then I support Kessels decision.

Dont get me wrong he still got to attack him, just in a very sad sad manner. But then who can expect any else from a sad sad little man...

 

[93forever]

I'd rather see Kessel and the other Leaf players focus and concentrate on the game rather than having to answer idiotic questions from the media.  We had to put up with stupid media all year - things like the Leafs needed to trade for Luongo or trade for a #1 centre to make the playoffs.  Leafs proved the media and critics wrong and now they're ticked off about it.  Media likes to make up stories to drum up controversy.

 

[louisstamos]

 

[TML fan]

He should do all his interviews like "Rides a 10-speed everywhere guy".

How are you preparing to face the Bruins?

"It's gonna be a tough series, we're gonna battle hard, and it's a great way to stay in shape."

How are you going to deal with Zdeno Chara?

"He's a good player, a big guy, and it's a great way to stay in shape"

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Look out, badass Kessel is on the loose!

So, Rosie, did you......... get your Phil?

 

[Leaflifer]

This playoff series going to be a big media event in Toronto. Reporters are in the process of creating story lines. The Kessel/Chara battle is one I'm sure they would like to build upon.

Every paper and news outlet wants to be the first place people look to get the dirt.

I am in the camp where I don't care what players do or say of the ice, but a lot of papers are going to be sold the day after every game.

 

[Zee]

Hope Kessel scores the first goal of the series tonight.

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

Hope Kessel scores the first goal of the series tonight.

THREE! AT ONCE!

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Hope Kessel scores the first goal of the series tonight.

THREE! AT ONCE!

Look out, Bill Mosienko!

 

[Highlander]

For all of you that hate the Kessel deal....get over it...Saturday night was a nice vindication of what Phil Kessel does for this team...he simply plays his guts out each and every night...great goal Phil.

 

[Rebel_1812]

For all of you that hate the Kessel deal....get over it...Saturday night was a nice vindication of what Phil Kessel does for this team...he simply plays his guts out each and every night...great goal Phil.

Yeah people forgot about the Owen Nolan deal and the Raycroft deal in a season or two.  Why such a long memory with Kessel.

 

[dappleganger]

For all of you that hate the Kessel deal....get over it...Saturday night was a nice vindication of what Phil Kessel does for this team...he simply plays his guts out each and every night...great goal Phil.

Yeah people forgot about the Owen Nolan deal and the Raycroft deal in a season or two.  Why such a long memory with Kessel.

Not to mention Kessel is by far the best player we received in any of those deals.

Leaf fans just need something to harp on. I doubt that will change anytime soon.

 

[draeko17]

One of the biggest story lines going in to this series was Kessel, and would he "show up" against the Bruins.  I suppose I should wait until after tonight's game (hope I haven't jinxed him....yes, I'm a very superstitious hockey fan...) but I'm just wondering how people are feeling about his play against his former team so far?  Has he stepped up his play like elite players do in the post season (I believe he has).  Has he surprised you at all?

 

[Zee]

One of the biggest story lines going in to this series was Kessel, and would he "show up" against the Bruins.  I suppose I should wait until after tonight's game (hope I haven't jinxed him....yes, I'm a very superstitious hockey fan...) but I'm just wondering how people are feeling about his play against his former team so far?  Has he stepped up his play like elite players do in the post season (I believe he has).  Has he surprised you at all?

Tonight's the night where Phil does what I asked, skates wide in OT, everyone thinks he'll just take a wrist shot and he suddenly drives the net holding off Chara and scores the series winner.  ;D

 

[Corn Flake]

One of the biggest story lines going in to this series was Kessel, and would he "show up" against the Bruins.  I suppose I should wait until after tonight's game (hope I haven't jinxed him....yes, I'm a very superstitious hockey fan...) but I'm just wondering how people are feeling about his play against his former team so far?  Has he stepped up his play like elite players do in the post season (I believe he has).  Has he surprised you at all?

We were worried he would wilt.. he's done anything but that. I put him in a different category now of the best players in the league who rise to the occasion in big games. That goal last night was the biggest of his career and probably the biggest a Leafs player has scored in the last 8-9 seasons.

edit: I think Kessel, Lupul, Phaneuf and Reimer are stepping up as the core of this team that truly can be a contender at some point.